Philadelphia Falter in Dallas & Patrick Saves Chiefs – Top Moments from NFL the Twelfth Week
The twelfth week delivered an epic Dallas Cowboys rally, or was it an epic Eagles implosion?
Playoff Mahomes showed up to salvage the Chiefs' campaign as the Bears keep to impress as they extend their victorious run.
Did Sanders perform sufficiently on his first professional outing to secure the full-time role in Ohio?
Let's take a look at the best of the action in the league.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Eagles Collapse?
The Cowboys found themselves trailing badly at twenty-one to zero behind versus the defending Super Bowl champions, so how on earth did they produce their joint-best recovery ever?
Sentiment of a first home game since Marshawn Kneeland tragic death could have been a factor, but technically it was a mixture of Dak Prescott determination and a defence that cashed in on uncommon errors by the Eagles.
Prescott eclipsed Romo’s records for yards thrown (now 34,378) and game-winning drives (25) with an all-action performance – his diving touchdown personifying his all-action showing.
Philly wasted a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time after nineteen ninety-nine, with just their second game with multiple giveaways this year – the previous being another bad division defeat at the Giants.
In addition to 14 infractions for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that hit Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was significant. He had only passed for 200-plus yards in four games before Sunday, he had over one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Texas.
Yet from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense derailed spectacularly – with four consecutive kicks, a failed field goal and then a turnover handing opportunity after chance to the Dallas.
The Eagles defence is brilliant, it truly is, but an offense that's not eclipsed twenty-one points in five of seven games (three losses) is now a major concern, because the pieces are all there but it's simply not clicking.
Nick Sirianni game is all about winning the key situations, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is does barely sufficient – if it cannot even do that and now the composure and possession security is failing, there could be problems in the future.
In Focus – Postseason Mahomes Appears Early to Save Chiefs
It wasn’t as extreme, but the Chiefs’ eleven-point comeback in the fourth quarter versus a powerful Indianapolis squad was very notable – and may have just rescued their campaign.
How significant was it? Well, the NFL's Next Gen Stats now give the Kansas City a 58% chance of reaching the postseason, when a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that number to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the postseason version of Mahomes arrived, passing for 235 yards in the second half alone and guiding 3 point-scoring possessions in their final 4 possessions to win it in extra time.
Some big passes and daring scrambles are commonplace for Patrick in the playoffs, but currently the Kansas City are in playoff mode – at 6-5 and just tenth in the conference standings.
This was closer to the former Chiefs though, with a first close victory of the year after losing five already – they won 11 of them last year so, if that confidence returns, this Kansas City faithful may not be finished just yet.
Talking Point – Can Bears Become Kings of the North?
You can no longer ignore the Bears any longer. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, minus Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at 8-3 – holding the identical record as the Philadelphia.
They appear dangerous on both sides of the field, with a defence that tops the NFL in interceptions and overall takeaways and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to securing close games.
He may still be inconsistent, surrendering a score after a fumble in his team’s end zone – but he additionally threw three touchdowns and, with already 5 final period rallies this season, he knows how to get the job done.
The Green Bay Packers are in hot pursuit in the NFC North after overpowering the Minnesota and the Lions are in contention after beating the New York in extra time with a huge game from Gibbs.
The Bears are interestingly the most reliable with 8 victories in 9, but as they travel to the Super Bowl champs on Thanksgiving we'll see just how strong they really are.
Look Ahead – Exciting Thanksgiving in Store
This looks one of the most exciting Thanksgiving line-ups for years, with each game packed with postseason implications.
The Lions host the Packers in the classic opener in Detroit, prior to a unusual trip back to Texas for the Chiefs, who began life as the Dallas Texans long ago in the 1960s before relocating to Kansas City.
Sunday's comeback kings are each holding on to postseason aspirations but have very little room for error – so this will have a post-season atmosphere.
And how about the Baltimore Ravens? An unattractive victory over the Jets in fact has them leading of the AFC North after starting one and five and appearing finished.
Holiday and Black Friday Fixtures (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (6:00 PM)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, twenty-eight November: Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Retain His Starting Role?
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed sufficiently in his debut NFL start to maintain the first-team position when Gabriel comes back.
But the issue will continue to be raised as Shedeur became the first Browns quarterback to win his debut NFL start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 additional rookie signal callers unsuccessful to do so since.
It came only the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly feral Browns defense getting ten tackles, but Cleveland's offense needs a leader, a presence to inspire confidence.
And self-belief is one thing not missing in Shedeur, who told a network {